Evening Echo
The News
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- Jun 14, 2011
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I'd rather Phillips was fit, we will miss him more than Kalala
Agree with the comments about Phillips , he's had a great season , but also think a lot of what Kalala does is very underrated.
He sits and protects the back four really well and is a key element in stopping the opposition.
Grant and Ferdinand are different types and don't fill that role as well.
Agree with the comments about Phillips , he's had a great season , but also think a lot of what Kalala does is very underrated.
He sits and protects the back four really well and is a key element in stopping the opposition.
Grant and Ferdinand are different types and don't fill that role as well.
I tend to agree with that too. Much of Kalala's breakdown play goes unnoticed because it can be quite untidy but he does it well
Much of what Ferdinand does and what Grant did (admittedly he hasn't played that role for a while) is very underrated.
I think Kalala gets recognised for this because this is all he can do, whereas Ferdinand and Grant actually offer something on the ball and are therefore perceived as attacking midfielders.
Agree with Southend Neil and Yorkshire Blue on this, both make solid points. Would rather Grant or Kane, because they give us a bit more in the middle.
Personally I think it will be a boost if Kalala isn't fit. The weak link in the current line up and I think he only gets praise for what he does because he is a so called 'holding midfielder' and is incapable of doing anything else. Therefore because he cant pass the ball properly or shoot it is assumed that he breaks up play, stops the opposition etc. The reality is he doesn't do this any better than Ferdinand or Grant but they dont get the same praise because they have other attributes. The holding player is the most overrated position in football anyway, what did we ever do before Makalele came along anyway. Its time for Kane to come back in anyway, we have a potential championship/premier player in our midst, for goodness sake lets use him while he is still with us.
An injury to Phillips would be a loss but nothing too major. Whilst he has been a solid performer and his goals a lovely bonus, I dont think he is a particularly great defender and the partnership with Barker is hardly watertight so even though I prefer Mohsni up front, I have no qualms with him slotting in at the back. We have more options up front and out wide now anyway and its a waste having a player of Bil's calibre on the bench so get him in now.
For the second half of last season Ferdinand did the exact job Kalala's doing, only IMO he did it better AND he offers more when we're on the ball.
It's a complete no-brainer for me. Why don't we make use of Ferdinand before we lose him to a Championship club?
Because he lost his place in the side due to a loss of form. He should have to earn his place back in the team through showing he's back on form in training. He shouldn't be an automatic pick just because a few higher division scouts rate him.
With Hall and Martin (I am still to see the best of what he can offer) out wide then we have the ammo for a couple of moments of “magic” and can always nick a goal from set piece or catch them on the break.
Agree that JP is a key player and that it would be great if he was back for the Swindon game as we don’t have someone of his type to put their foot in and break up play.